Measured-service telephone system



- April 7, 1925. J. ERICKSON mmsunim SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed May 25, 1922 Im rEn Ur- J hn E MIREUTL Fatented Apr. 7, 1925,

Era-renew; on (intense, refiners, Aznr'ofiiefie as- Application filed. fiayfii TQ CtZZ whom it'mayconcern: v v

Be it known that 1,-JHN EnI iisoN, a citizenof the" United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cool: County,- and State 0f lllinois,-=have invented crtainnew and useful Improvementsin Measured -Service Telephonej Systems, of which the followiilg e15 aspecification; v y p The present invention relates to nleasured service telephone systems in general, but is and useful features which will be pointedout; and described; hereinafter, referencebeing h'acl 'to the accompanying drawing In thedrawing; an-automatic substation- A o-fthe usual typefis shown equipped with the-improved substation meter M. The substation A- is identical with the substation A anlis' equipped with the meter M which is similar tothe meter M, and which is denoted by'the; 1'e eta-ngle bearing the reference char-" 'fiGt-QIYM",

' The line switch C in which theline of substation- A terminates, the selector 1) which isacces'sible to theline switch G, the

selector 1] which is accessible to the selector D, which switches are denoted by the dotted;

rectangles" bearingthose reference characters, and the final connector F may be automaticswitches of any desired or well known type, except thatthe connector is requiredto be of the particular type in which the incoming trunk conductors are reversed when the called subscriber answers. The line and back bridge relays only of theconnector F; or the ones" which are neededtoexplain theoperation of the improved meter r 7 comesinto.engagenientjwith its front stop M, are shown.

The IHTPTOVGLl'DlGiLBl', M'com-pnses a polariZed' relay" 3, operating magnet: 6 and associated armature 7, meter wheel 14, and-the train otclock-wheels and escapemeht' controlled by' armature 7; togethei witlrthe latch 8 and associatedspring contacts? In order to describe the operation of the inete'r M, 'itwvill-be" a'ss umed that the sub scriber' at substation desires to converse with the s'ub'scriber I at substation A". I VVhen the receiveris removed at substation the line switch G operates in the well known reverses the line centimeters incoming to the 1922. Serial ste m.

manner to extend the lineotsubstation A ceiver,-thetransmitter, the impulse szpring of the calling deviceiCD, spring 4 of polarized relay 3 and its resting contact, and polarized relay 3. l ola-rized relay 3 energiz es at thisftime but in afdirection opposite to that in which it must energizein order to pera pri g t o 'T hecallingsubscriber now operates, his calling device in accordance with thedigits in the desired number, whereupon the first selectorD, anda second-selector, the selector for example; and a connector, the connector F for example, are operated in the usualmanner to extend theconnecti'onto theline of substation A. The connector F n ow applies current 1 to V the, called line, inthe Well known manner to ring the bridged bell p at'the called substation. When the called subscriber responds by removing his receiyer, the source of ringing current is removedifom thecalled' line and the wipers oftheconnector F are connected up, as. shown by, the dotted conductors. When this occurs, b ack bridge relay 2E0 energizes; over the called, subs cribers line and connector-"F as regards their connection with the windings'of line relay21, thereby reversing direetion ofcurreiit flow. in the calling line. hen this occurs polarized "relay 3 isen ergized inthe opposite direc ofiand' operates spring. 4, thereby? removing the shunt fromlaround magnet 6. Magnet 6, up n n rg z n was wa a upon the pawl 13 draws the numberfwheel .14 forward to register the call, and the-pawl 12' isiadv'ancedpas'tj two teeth on the associ'atd ratchet wheel.;: Just" before armature 10,-the'end of arinathre 7 coinesginto engage ment with spring and pushes it; beyond the :endl of thlocklng lever 8, whereupon sorinw 5 comes into" en amment with its D t; t!

associated contact, and, the' locking lever drops behlnd spring 15 and locks ltin its operated position. When sp'ring- :3 comes into engagement-with its associated; Contact, it places ashunt 'around' the polarized relay 3, =whereup on the said'relayB deenergizes. Upon deenergi i-ng; polarizedrela'y 3 allows spring at to come into engagement with its to be fully retracted may be varied to suit;

different requirements.

The subscribers, of course, may begin to converse with each other upon the removal of the receiver at the called substation and, in case the conversation is terminated before armature 7 reaches its normal position, no further charge is made. Assuming, however, that the conversation is extended beyond the predetermined limit, the initial charge is repeated when the armature 7 reaches its normal position, as will now be described. Just as armature 7 reaches normal position shown. in the drawing, the end thereof strikes the knob 9, thereby forcing the lever 8 up out of engagement with spring 15. The springs 15 and 5 now return to normal position and the latter removes the shunt from around polarized relay 3, where upon the said relay 3 energizes and operates spring l. Spring 4:, upon being operated, removes'the shunt from around magnet 6, whereupon the above described operation is repeated. The meter M repeats this cycle of operation over and over until the conversation is completed.

hen the conversation is completed the two subscribers replace their receivers. hen the receiver is replaced at the called substation, the circuit of back bridge relay 20 is opened. The said relay 20, upon deenergizing, reverses the current flow in the calling line to normal. When the receiver is replaced at the calling substation the circuit of line relay 21 of the connector F is opened, whereupon the connection is released in the usual manner.

It will be noted that the current flow in the called line is in the same direction as the current flow in the calling line before the called subscriber has answered. Conse quently, the called subscribers meter is not operated.

The various features of the invention, having been described and ascertained in the fore oing, will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a calling line, another line, a substation on said calling line, a charge assessing device at said substation comprising a relay, a magnet, a timing device, and a register, means for extending a connection from said calling line to said other line, means responsive to the answer ing of the subscriber on said other line for operating said relay by causing'a current change in said calling line, means controlled 7 7 said relay.

2. In a telephone system,'a calling line, a substation on said line, a meter at said substation, another line, means for extending a connection from the first named line to said other line and for signalling a subscriber thereon, means controlled by the response 'of the subscriber on said other line for actuating said meter to register a completed connection by reversing the current flow in the calling line, means including a timing'device associated with said meter for repeatedly actuating said meter at predetermined intervals during the conversation, and a magnet energized over a talking conductor of the calling line by current supplied from the exchange for supplying power to operate said timing device and said meter, and circuits for supplying current to the magnet as set forth.

3. In a telephone system, a line, a substation on said line, a meter associated with said substation, a second line, means for extending a connection from the first mentioned line to said second line and for signalling a subscriber thereon, a magnet controlled over a talking conductor of said first line by the response of the subscriber on said second line for operating said meter, a timing device individual to said meter, and means controlled by said timing device and said magnet for repeating the operation of said meter at intervals.

4. In a substation meter, a vibratory device comprising a relay and a magnet adapted to be energized over the line circuit, the relay having an armature controlling the magnet circuit and the magnet having an armature controlling the relay circuit, a counting device actuated by the magnet armature, and a clock train for controlling the rate at which the magnet armature is operated.

5. In a substation meter, a vibratory device comprising a relay and a magnet adapted for energization over the line circuit, the said magnet being normally short circuited, an armature for the relay for removing the short circuit around said magnet, an armature for the magnet adapted to place a short circuit around said relay, a counting device and means for advancing it every time said magnet armature is operated, and a timing mechanism for regulating the rate at Which said magnet armature is operated.

6. In a substation meter, a spring driven clock train, a Winding magnet for tensioning the driving spring, a counting device for counting the number of times said Winding magnet is operated, and a circuit including the talking conductors of the subscribers line for operating said Winding magnet.

7. In a substation meter, a spring driven clock train, a winding magnet for tensioning the driving spring, a counting device for counting the number of times said winding magnet is operated, a circuit including the talking conductors of the subscribers line for operating said winding magnet, a polar relay associated with said winding magnet,

- and contacts so connected that the relay and for said line equipped with a meter, and an elect-romagnetically driven timing device also at the substation for causing said meter to operate at definite intervals over the talking conductors of the calling line during a talking connection.

9. In a telephone system, a subscribers substation, charging means including a relay, automatic means for causing the actuation of said relay, a timing device, and means associated with said relay for rendering said timing device effective to render said automatic means ineffective for a definite period, said automatic means thereafter again rendering said charging means ellective to operate the meter.

10. In a telephone substation set, a timing device, a call metering device, joint means for operating said devices, and a relay associated with the timing device and controlled thereby for rendering the metering device effective to repeat the registering operation after a definite interval.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of May, A. D., 1922.

JOHN ERICKSON. 

